The Wheaton, Ill., native enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 23, 2008, and was serving his first deployment with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force as a light armored vehicle crewman.

During his two years of service, Oratowski was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Oratowski was one of about 20,000 Marines stationed in the Helmand province, the deadliest region of Afghanistan that claimed the lives of at least 15 from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force between mid-May and the end of June. Camp Pendleton Marines make up nearly half of the Marines in the province.